Italian families target Facebook, Instagram and TikTok over child safety

By Giselda Vagnoni ROME (Reuters) -A group of Italian families has filed a lawsuit against Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, accusing the platforms of failing to enforce age restrictions and using addictive features that harm children's mental health. The case asks a Milan court to require the platforms to adopt stronger age-verification systems for users under 14, in line with Italian law. It also seeks to make Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram and TikTok remove potentially manipulative algorithms and provide transparent information on the possible harms of overuse. LAWSUIT TO BE HEARD NEXT YEAR The action, filed by law firm Ambrosio & Commodo together with the Italian Parents' Movement (MOIGE), is scheduled to be heard by the Milan court's business chamber from February 2026. "It's too easy for children to bypass the age ban. This action is about stopping conduct that is harmful to a large number of individuals," said lawyer Renato Ambrosio in a statement sent to Reuters late on Monday.  A Meta spokesperson said the company was committed to keeping young people safe online and that "teen safety should be an industry-wide priority". "With Teen Accounts we provide default protections for teens limiting who can contact them, the content they can see, and how much time they spend on Facebook and Instagram. We also have measures in place to prevent teens from lying about their age," the spokesperson added. TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment. GLOBAL SCRUTINY OF SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY Several countries, including Australia and some in Europe, have taken or are considering measures to curb social media use among minors. Facebook, Instagram and TikTok also face dozens of lawsuits in the U.S. accusing them of enticing and addicting millions of children to their platforms. In Italy, the plaintiffs estimate that more than three million of the 90 million Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts are used by children under 14.  They argue that social media use among minors can lead to health issues including eating disorders, sleep deprivation, depression, and impaired academic performance. The Turin-based law firm and MOIGE said they were also preparing a subsequent class action lawsuit, open to parents whose children have allegedly been harmed by using social media. (Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni. Editing by Mark Potter)

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